Twelfth Step Within Works

In 1985, it took a strong, concerted effort to get World Service Business Conference to accept some Twelfth Step Within suggestions from a group of women from Region Two. These members fought for five years for something they believed in: the need to “carry the message to those already in program,” to members who were still struggling, maybe people whose bodies did not reflect what was in their hearts. These women spoke from a place of honesty, hope, and humility; thank God they laid the groundwork for members like me.

In 1996 and 1997, my God made me passionate about helping those craving abstinence and recovery. As my intergroup’s Twelfth Step Within Committee chair, I created a series of events, and with the support of my husband, we also created Twelfth Step Within flyers and a mug. I started a monthly Twelfth Step Within meeting, a Thanksgiving marathon, a weekend retreat, and later, an annual one-day retreat that often featured speakers who had experienced relapse and are still in recovery today.

I created a format for these meetings and events that incorporated suggestions from the Twelfth Step Within Handbook, customized for our needs in the San Jose area. At the start of each meeting, we announced that all were welcome and circulated a telephone sign-in sheet. We had readings from OA’s Together We Can pamphlet that addressed relapse and service. We shared our intergroup’s current monthly newsletters and reminded members that vital information could be found on our website. OA-approved literature was made available, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions were read.

During the Twelfth Step Within meetings, we presented members with chips celebrating the number of years they’d suited up and showed up in OA. All our speakers had experienced relapse and were now abstinent. Members counted off into three breakout groups. Each group facilitator had a specific format to read, and then members would take turns sharing—not about abstinence, positive pitches, or any specific topic, but about their truth. They could come clean about their food and what they needed help with. Members felt that our small-group sharing was helpful and left comments, such as “what OA used to be like” or “what’s done at weekend retreats.”

When all the groups finished, we’d come together again and return to a standard meeting format, where anyone with a burning desire to share could speak.

Then a volunteer would read from the Big Book. We usually read selections from “There is a Solution” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th. ed., pp. 17–29) or the promises (pp. 83–84). The meeting would close with members holding hands in a circle and speaking the OA Promise “I put my hand in yours.”

Consider starting a Twelfth Step Within meeting in your own area!

— Shirley S., Sunnyvale, California USA